Underground drilling machine

ABSTRACT

A compactly arranged drilling machine, having all of its components arranged on a single base, is provided. These components comprise a conventional swivel head with hoisting drum, a power means therefor including a constant speed motor, a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, a hydraulic motor driven by the pump, and a drive line from the hydraulic motor to the input shaft of the swivel head. The machine is particularly useful to underground drilling operations in which a saving of up to 40 percent in rock removal, as compared with conventional machines, has been achieved.

[451 June 20, 1972 United States Patent Hokanson et al.

173/146 X .....l73/146 X 2,939,681 6/1960 Owen.................................173/145 X m M x 9 m. l 2

[s41 UNDERGROUND DRILLING MACHINE 2,592,402 4/1952 Erdahl [72] Inventors: Lyle W. Hokanson; Ronald T. Fowke, both of Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada Examiner-David H. Brown [73] Assignee: Heath 8: Sherwood Drilling Limited, Kir- Lake, Ontario, Canada Attorney-Weir, Marshall, MacRae 8: Lamb Jan. 6, 1971 ABSTRACT A compactly arranged drilling machine, having all of its com- [22] Filed:

[21] App1.No.: 104,385-

particuponents arranged ona single base, is provided. These components comprise a conventional swivel head with hoistin drum, a power means therefor including a constant speed motor, a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, a hydraulic motor driven by the pump, and a drive line from the hydraulic motor to the input shaft of the swivel head. The machine is larly useful to underground drilling operations in whi 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAT-ENTEDJum 1972 SHEET 1 [IF 3 PA TENT A GENT PATENTEDJUHZO m 3, 670,827 SHEET 30F 3 Za I 50 IN VEN TOR AAMM ZZZ/flaw PA TENT AGENT UNDERGROUND DRILLING MACHINE The invention relates to drilling machines of compact, selfcontained type.

In many drilling operations, and particularly in undergroun locations, limited space is available for setting up of the drilling equipment. Moreover, arrangement of the various components of the equipment is expensive and frequently awkward and time-consuming. Conventional equipment is on a longitudinal design where large areas must be used to set up the machine correctly.

Furthermore, the conventional arrangement of standard components frequently fails to provide efficient operation. Drive line components, such as clutches and gear changers, are subject to substantial wear and require constant attention. There are hazards, including burning of bits and twisting off of the drill string, which are difficult to control. Moreover, speed and torque control are difficult as nonnally only three'gear speeds are provided.

The present invention seeks to provide a compact drilling device having an arrangement of parts that will substantially reduce the set-up space required and which will result in improved and more efficient drilling operations. Savings of up to about 40 percent in rock removal, as compared with the use of conventional machines, have been achieved.

To this end, the invention comprises a drilling machine having a unitary base on which is mounted a standard swivel head and hoisting drum. Power driving means for the head and drum are also mounted on the base and include a constant speed motor, a hydraulic pump driven by the motor, a hydraulic motor with fluid lines from the pump and driven thereby, and a drive line from the hydraulic motor to the input shaft of the head and drum.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a drilling machine in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation,

FIG. 3 is a plan view,

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded plan of the components of the machine, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the swivel head drive mechanism.

In the drawings, the machine is shown as supported on base frame members mounted on skids or runners 11 and providing a compact rectangular supporting base on which all components of the device are mounted.

An electric motor 12 of, say, 50 I-I.P., mounted adjacent one end of the base, provides the basic power means for the machine. The motor 12 drives a hydraulic pump 13 through motor shaft 14 and coupling components 15 and 16.

The pump 13 drives a hydraulic motor 17 through hydraulic 37,39 with control levers 42,43 are provided.

The shaft 28 also drives a swivel head 44 through gears 31,32,45,46,47. The swivel head is a standard variable feed type in which the drill rod string is held and which imparts turning movement to the string in the usual manner.

Gears 32 and 46 are splined to their shafts 49,50 for sliding movement thereon in order to provide selective driving of the hoisting drum and swivel head.

It will be observed that the swivel head is offset with respect to the base to Ipermit positioning of the drill rod string therein. A tower 5 IS removably mounted on the dull and is employed in the usual manner in pulling the rods out of the drill hole. It will be apparent that the usual. cable means in conjunction with the tower and drum 30 will be employed.

The compact arrangement of the power unit and the drive train leading therefrom results in a substantial decrease in size of the base which allows the machine to be used in a limited space. This is especially desirable :in underground drilling operations. Moreover, as previously indicated, drilling operations using the machine can be conducted more efficiently than with conventional machines of corresponding capacity with up to 40 percent savings in rock removal.

The hydraulic power means operating from a constant speed motor results in the achievement of widely variable swivel head and drum speeds without clutches or gear changets and other wearprone drive line components.

The structure described also results in positive hydrostatic braking with minimum use of brake bands while lowering the drill string in the drill hole.

In conventional gear train, output torque increases as lower speeds are required. The structure described permits the maximum torque to be-predetennined and thereby reduces the danger of twisting off of drill string, burning bits, and other such hazards.

The device also makes possible convenient selection and control of speed ranges.

Use of a variable speed hydraulic motor pennits overdriving which allows greater speed than supplied by the power source. The compact nature of the equipment is such that it may be readily transported by light aircraft, helicopter, or mine cage. We claim: Y I

1. A drilling machine comprising a receiving swivel head, and a drill rod string hoisting and lowering drum mounted on said base, a drive shaft having means drivably connecting said shaft with said head and said drum, and means mountedon said base for driving said drive shaft comprising a constant speed motor, a hydraulic pump driven by said motor, a hydraulic motor having hydraulic lines connected to said pump and drivable thereby, said hydraulic motor having a power output shaft, and means drivably connecting said power output shaft with said drive shaft.

hoses l8 and 19. Both the hydraulicmotor and pump are preferably of conventional variable displacement type and each may be independently controlled by the operator.

The power output shaft 20 of the hydraulic motor is connected through a standard two-speed auxiliary transmission 21 by means of coupling components 22,23 to a shaft 24 of a conventional right angle drive means 25, whose drive shaft 26 is connected by coupling 27 to the input shaft 28 of a conventional hoist and swivel head drive mechanism 29. j

As shown in FIG. 5, input shaft 28 drives a hoisting and lowering drum 30 through gears 31,32,33, shaft 34, sun gear 35, planetary gears 36 carried by a drum 37, and ring gear 38 carried by a brake drum 39. Brake shoes 40,41 on drums 2. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, said last-mentioned means comprising right angle drive means connected to said power output shaft, said right angle drive means having a driving shaft extending substantially at right angles to said power output shaft, said driving shaft being drivably and axially connected to said drive shaft.

3. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, said last-mentioned means including a transmission directly connected to said power output shaft.

4. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, said constant speed motor being an electric motor.

5. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, including braking means connected to said drum, and control means for said braking means for selective control of the speed of said drum.

base, a drill rod string 

1. A drilling machine comprising a base, a drill rod string receiving swivel head, and a drill rod string hoisting and lowering drum mounted on said base, a drive shaft having means drivably connecting said shaft with said head and said drum, and means mounted on said base for driving said drive shaft comprising a constant speed motor, a hydraulic pump driven by said motor, a hydraulic motor having hydraulic lines connected to said pump and drivable thereby, said hydraulic motor having a power output shaft, and means drivably connecting said power output shaft with said drive shaft.
 2. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, said last-mentioned means comprising right angle drive means connected to said power output shaft, said right angle drive means having a driving shaft extending substantially at right angles to said power output shaft, said driving shaft being drivably and axially connected to said drive shaft.
 3. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, said last-mentioned means including a transmission directly connected to said power output shaft.
 4. A drilling machine as defineD in claim 1, said constant speed motor being an electric motor.
 5. A drilling machine as defined in claim 1, including braking means connected to said drum, and control means for said braking means for selective control of the speed of said drum. 